Cophura sculleni
Wilcox, 1937
Cophura sculleni is a of robber fly (Asilidae) described by Wilcox in 1937. It belongs to the Brachyrhopalinae, a group characterized by relatively short . The species is part of the Cophura, which contains approximately 30 species distributed primarily in North America. Very few observations of this species have been documented.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Cophura sculleni: //koʊˈfjʊərə ˈskʌlənaɪ//
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Identification
As a member of Brachyrhopalinae, Cophura sculleni can be distinguished from other Asilidae by with a short or style. Within the Cophura, identification requires examination of male genitalia and other fine morphological details; no published diagnostic features distinguish C. sculleni from without examination.
Distribution
Known from the western United States. Type locality and precise range documentation are limited.
Similar Taxa
- Other Cophura speciesCongeneric share the short antennal style characteristic of Brachyrhopalinae and require genitalic examination for reliable identification.
- Asilidae in other subfamilies (e.g., Asilinae, Laphriinae)Distinguished by antennal structure: Brachyrhopalinae have reduced styles compared to the longer, more prominent styles or terminal segments in other .
More Details
Taxonomic note
The Cophura was revised by Wilcox (1937), who described C. sculleni among several new . The Brachyrhopalinae remains taxonomically challenging, with species boundaries often unclear without comparison.
Data scarcity
Only 7 observations recorded in iNaturalist as of source date, indicating this is rarely encountered or underreported. No published biological studies specific to this species were located.